20 Mods That Make Minecraft Feel Like A Completely Different Game

One of the most popular games of the last decade, Minecraft’s success doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. In the last couple of years, the success has only grown with recent updates and brought many players back to the game. That being said, it’s still natural to feel bored and tired of experiencing the game the same way every single time.

This is where the modding community steps in. Minecraft has an immense variety of unique mods and mod packs, as well as resource packs and shaders that can make the game feel totally different. Here are mods that will completely change how players experience the game. Note that some of these will only function on older versions of Minecraft, so make sure to check the download page for information before installing a mod.

There is an abundance of Minecraft mods that completely change the feel of the game, and these are just some of the best, most immersive mods released so far by creators. Each mod now also has a genre next to it, to give players an idea what the mod does.

20 Compact Claustrophobia

• Genre:
• Skyblock-inspired limited survival, technology and engineering

Not for the faint of heart, this skyblock-inspired survival modpack has Minecraft players stuck inside a tiny cube-shaped room, with nothing but a few basics. The mission from there onward is to thrive and eventually break out of the cube.

Compact Claustrophobia is focused quite a bit of tech and engineering, so it does have a bit of a learning curve. That said, its well-made questing system guides players through each phase of the game by explaining what to do next.

19 Roguelike Dungeons And Adventure

• Genre:
• Medieval, adventure and RPG, with new structures

Minecraft has a few cool structures in its vanilla version, but nothing quite as intense and crazy as Roguelike’s. This mod adds a bunch of new structures into the world for players to discover, and these structures are large and very difficult to conquer.

Moreover, it adds in several new dimensions with boss enemies that will require players to grind and level up first before attempting to fight them. It’s the perfect mod for those who love old school RPGs and a real challenge.

18 Enigmatica 2 Expert

• Genre:
• Mix of technology and magic, with quests

A lot of Minecraft’s more tech-based mods might feel a bit intrusive or game-breaking when it comes to immersion, and that’s fair enough. The alternative is a modpack like Enigmatica 2 Expert, which, as the name implies, is quite hefty and difficult to get into but rewarding once learned.

Through a large questbook of over 600 quests, the player can attain certain goals by building and unlocking craftable items. Most of the tech is based on magic and plants, through mods like Botania which are a bit closer to the original feel of Minecraft.

17 Rebirth Of The Night

• Genre:
• Adventure, RPG, Dark Souls-type of punishing gameplay

If Minecraft feels like a walk in the park, mods like Rebirth of the Night are the perfect addition. It’s very much focused on adventure and RPG, which a massive added challenge to any mob encounters. Players will actually have to play strategically and think critically about their survival.

Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of this challenging mod is that mobs are much smarter. They will actual mine and place down blocks to get to the player, making the safety of one’s home pretty much redundant.

16 Seablock: Rustic Waters

• Genre:
• Subnautica-inspired, underwater limited survival, steampunk

Subnautica is a wildly popular game for similar reasons as Minecraft, so it’s no surprise that a mod called Seablock has come out with gameplay directly inspired by the original game. The concept is akin to skyblock, but everything takes place underwater.

There are new structures to explore, new goals to attain and an oxygen meter to keep an eye on. Just like in Subnautica, players need to survive, build and thrive while exploring what’s around them to further aid them on their quest.

15 Applied Energistics 2

• Genre:
• Sci-fi, technology-centered

Players who appreciate futuristic content and would like to try playing Minecraft using sci-fi inspired technology developed by talented modders, Applies Energistics 2 is one of the most interesting options out there. Energy is a concept that doesn’t really exist in vanilla Minecraft, which is why this mod is revolutionary.

The mod brings in a ton of new blocks and items, from brand-new tools to new decorative blocks and ores. With the power of energy, players can build structures they could only dream of previously. To get this mod, head over to its official page.

14 Botania

• Genre:
• Nature-oriented, magical

Technology doesn’t just have to be about wiring and electricity. Botania, a mod that really redefines the natural side of Minecraft, allows players to create machines and farms that are automated through the magical power of plants.

There’s an immense amount of new content within the mod, from new gear, tools to new potions as well. If the idea of wiring and creating mechanical machines doesn’t appeal to the player, this is a fantastic natural and magical alternative that lines up better with Minecraft’s original themes while still changing quite a bit.

13 MineColonies

• Genre:
• Medieval, immersive structures, village improvement

The villages in Minecraft are nice, but how cool would it be to have a bit more agency over how things are managed within a colony? Imagine being able to determine who works for what and how many NPCs are employed in a massive, growing medieval city.

The aesthetic of Minecraft allows for this, but the logistics of it are provided by Minecolonies, a mod that allows players to actually govern their towns and cities in a more efficient and robust manner. There’s even the option to set up proper security and guards for a new colony.

12 The Undergarden

• Genre:
• Alternate dimension, cave-like

New dimensions are something that Minecraft desperately needs, and thankfully there are a bunch of mods that provide. One of the best and most impressive mods out there right now is the Undergarden mod, which brings the player to an underground, Nether-like cave dimension.

Players will have to see the place for themselves to really appreciate it, but the visuals are truly stunning and eerie. With a new dimension comes new biomes, new mobs, potions, new music as well as even new ores that can be crafted into powerful tools and weapons.

11 Gaia Dimension

• Genre:
• Alternate dimension, crystal world

For players wanting desperately to feel that classic Aether aesthetic, there’s a newer dimensional mod that takes some visual inspiration from the most popular mod of all time. Gaia Dimension is basically a world entirely crafted out of various crystals, which gives it its unique appearance and colors.

As is expected from a dimensional mod, this one also introduces a whole myriad of new hostile and passive mobs and ores to make the player’s stay in the Gaia Dimension as exciting and rewarding as possible. With a bunch of new biomes to discover in the dimension, players won’t be bored for a while here.

10 The Aether

• Genre:
• Alternate dimension, sky/heavenly dimension

Considered one of the most, if not the most accomplished mod that was ever made for Minecraft, the Aether mod truly transformed the game when it came out years ago. Now, the Aether II is available for download thanks to immense community efforts, which allows players to travel to a sky dimension through a mysterious portal.

The Aether introduced not only a brand new world, but also brand new monsters, dungeons, and items which just fit perfectly into Minecraft at the time. The mod was so popular that its creator was actually recently hired by Mojang, which is a good sign that we might actually get something like the Aether in the future.

9 BiblioCraft

• Genre:
• Medieval, furnishing and organization

Those who believe that Minecraft has a huge lack of furniture aren’t alone. Many in the community have been asking for more options for storage and furniture for years now. While recent updates are definitely going towards a promising path, there’s nothing quite like BiblioCraft just yet.

This mod adds so much detail and depth into the items of the game. From shelves to chairs and even desks, this is the ideal mod for anyone who desperately wants to spice up their builds and make them look even more realistic on the inside.

8 BuildCraft

• Genre:
• Technical, engineering, Redstone-based

There’s been a lot of different technical building packs for Minecraft, which provide technologically more complex tools and building opportunities than the base game itself. For those who really enjoy Redstone, but want to see a bit more depth added into the mix of things, BuildCraft is a perfect mod.

The mod vastly expands the game’s building potential. One of the most well-known features of this mod is the automatic quarry, which basically creates an automatic stone mine. Players with a love for all things tech, this is a dream come true.

7 GalactiCraft

• Genre:
• Sci-fi, technical, engineering

Exploration in Minecraft is already pretty fun, but what if players could travel to space and to other, distant planets with different biomes? With GalactiCraft, this becomes possible. It’s another technologically advanced mod, which lets the player craft tons of different objects and vehicles related to space and living on an exoplanet colony.

From solar panels to rockets that let you travel into space in the first place, as well as rovers, there’s few things this mod doesn’t let a player do. It brings so much new to the game that this may as well be a completely different version of Minecraft.

6 No Cubes Mod

• Genre:
• Game-altering visual overhaul

Minecraft is best known for its unique look. Everything looks like a blocky, pixelated cartoon world, with a stereotypical, vibrant appearance. What if Minecraft was not, in fact, made of cubes after all? The idea seems crazy and impossible, but there’s actually a mod for it out there.

The No Cubes Mod completely changes the way Minecraft looks like. It truly does give a different perspective on the game. With shaders on, the environment looks even more amazing. While it’s not the most playable version of the game, it’s pretty interesting to see how the world would look like without its default cubic appearance.

5 Pixelmon Mod

• Genre:
• Pokemon-inspired, new mobs

The world of Minecraft seems like a world that would go well with the world of Pokemon. After all, there’s tons of wilderness, which means there’s space for rare Pokémon to thrive. It’s now possible to catch your favorite Pokémon within Minecraft, thanks to the Pixelmon mod.

This mod features incredibly detailed models of a wide variety of Pokémon creatures, which can be caught and battled. While it’s really well-made, it’s also a mod that has an incredible amount of content and is unlikely to run well on low-end PCs.

4 The Betweenlands

• Genre:
• Alternate dimension, exploration, forest/cave-like

Currently, only three dimensions are available in Minecraft and most players have explored them over and over again. Until more content is on the way there’s nothing quite like some of the dimensional, like The Betweenlands.

This mod is much like the Aether. It introduces a brand new dimension into the game, with tons of new enemies and areas to explore. The dimension even has some new bosses that can be fought and hundreds of new blocks to spice up the building aspect of Minecraft.

3 Lost Cities Mod

• Genre:
• Exploration, post-apocalyptic, major structures

The 1.14 update changed villages drastically and also introduced illagers into the mix. However, Minecraft still lacks interesting structures and areas that feel rewarding to explore, even after hours of gameplay. Thankfully, the Lost Cities Mod changes this by generating massive abandoned cities for players to find.

Not only do the cities feature massive apartment buildings and blocks to discover, but they’re also connected by highways and tunnels which can be followed by players. For those wanting a post-apocalyptic type of world into their game, this is a great mod to download.

2 Biomes O’ Plenty

• Genre:
• New biomes, visual overhaul

There are dozens upon dozens of biomes in Minecraft, and new ones are being added with almost every update. Biomes are important because they bring a variety of gameplay and building options into the game itself, making it more exciting.

For those who would still like even more biomes, the Biomes O’ Plenty mod adds a bunch of new terrains not just in the overworld but also in the Nether. Future updates will also include new biomes in the End, which should be exciting to experience, given how repetitive the End is.

1 RLCraft

• Genre:
• Medieval, RPG, Dark Souls-type of punishing gameplay

With so many mods available, sometimes all that’s needed is just a full-on overhaul of the game. That’s why mod packs are so good, because they introduce a multitude of different mods at the same time. One of such packs is RLCraft, which became popular due to the realism and challenge it introduced to the game.

This pack introduces totally new gameplay mechanics, from skill trees to new tools, structures and areas to discover. Brand new enemies, which are particularly vicious, will spawn all across the world. Not to mention, a thirst mechanic has been introduced and hunger has been made more punishing when not tended to. For an extreme survival adventure experience, this is the modpack to choose.